Gaza's Schools Closed Since October 2023; Generation Faces Permanent Credential Gap

Every school in Gaza shut after the October 2023 war outbreak and remains closed nearly three years later, affecting hundreds of thousands of students. High school students attempting the tawjihi—Palestine's national matriculation exam required for university entry—now sit exams in cafés or must travel to Cairo. The Palestinian Ministry of Education, partnering with UNICEF, launched non-formal learning programs, but credentials earned outside accredited systems lack portability for Arab universities. The credential gap poses structural challenges for post-conflict workforce recovery.